The 31st ICBC Cup Dalian International Marathon (DIM) is set to start on Sunday in Dalian, a harbor city in northeast China's Liaoning Province. Recognized by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and China Athletic Association's Road Running Committee, it is also the oldest marathon in China with the first event held in 1987.

Requested by IAAF standard, the Dalian event's organizers need to invite more than 12 international gold label runners from at least four countries to make sure that the marathon is both "international" and "competitive". In the end, DIM has invited 67 outstanding international marathoners in total. In the men's group, nine of them have a personal best (PB) within 2 hours and 10 minutes. In the women's group, seven have a PB within 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Victor Kipchirchir Lagat from Kenya has the No.1 PB of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 39 seconds for men while Workenesh Edesa Gurmesa from Ethiopia has the No.1 PB of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 4 seconds for women.

Almost 30,000 runners from 38 countries and regions have registered for the 2018 DIM which will include seven events:

1. Men/Women Personal Marathon, Marathon Team Event (42.195 km);

2. Men/Women Marathon Relay (42.195 km), 6 runners in each team;

3. Men’s Wheelchair Marathon (42.195 km);

4. Men/Women Half Marathon (21.0975 km);

5. Men/Women Wheelchair Half Marathon (21.0975 km);

6. Men and Women 10km Fitness Run (10 km);

7. Men and Women Mini Marathon (4.2 km);

DIM is certificated by AIMS, meaning that the runner's achievement can work as his/her Boston Qualification (BQ) making the runner eligible for the next Boston Marathon if his/her achievement meets Boston's standards based on his/her age.